Big Island Updates: Allen's Table and Big Island Brewhaus

By Martha Cheng

Published: 2012.03.28 09:29 AM

Local charcuterie plate at Allen's Table

Striking out on their own:

Allen Hess, previously chef de cuisine at Merriman's Waimea, has moved about a mile down the road to open his own place: Allen's Table. He's brought his popular house-cured, thick-cut bacon served with a Kau coffee sauce, and rosemary biscuits, slathered with Tropical Dreams butter. This dish arrives in a bit of parchment paper so you can unwrap them like a present and inhale the rosemary and butter aroma. Salads come with lovely Big Island lettuces and produce, such as heart of palm and tomatoes.

The beef and pork plates change daily: one night, a beef shank and pork chop, thick and hearty portions for cold Waimea nights. There's also the only Big Island house-cured charcuterie plate that I know of, which, when we went, included pipikaula, lardo and pancetta.

Beer sampler at Big Island Brewhaus

Thomas Kerns, formerly the brewmaster at Maui Brewing Co., opened Big Island Brewhaus, a lively brewpub with 13 house-brewed beers on tap, from a Pau Hana Pale Ale to a White Mountain Porter to a Red Giant Ale, all listed with alcohol levels and IBU (a bitterness indicator). Go with the beer sampler, a paddle of five tastes, if you're undecided. Pair it with some Mexican-American crowd-pleasers such as nachos, tacos and burritos for good times in Waimea.

From five-star restaurants to hidden holes-in-the-wall, Biting Commentary will let you know what’s hot and what’s not. Find out the latest restaurant news—who’s opening, who’s closing, which chef is moving on, where the great special dinners are. Discover the best menu items, fabulous wines, stunning cocktails and hand-crafted beers.